Dixons takes Time to court

DIXONS and computer company Time Group are set for a High Court showdown after talks to settle a trademark dispute failed. The High Street electrical giant had threatened to take legal action against Time to try to block its plans to rebrand its stores as The Computer World following a merger with rival PC retailer Tiny.

Dixons said customers would be confused between The Computer World and its own chain, PC World - The Computer Superstore. It has filed a writ seeking damages and an injunction banning Time from infringing trademarks.

PC World is the UK's biggest chain of computer superstores. Time Group, its nearest rival, is hoping to rebrand all its 150 stores as The Computer World by the end of this month.

But Dixons said it was confident it would be able to stop the plan. 'Our findings have shown that there is scope for confusion with our customers,' said a spokesman.

Time said: 'We have asked for the research from Dixons showing that customers would be confused, but it has failed to produce any.'